HOLLYWOOD, FL – The Seminole Tribe of Florida today announced that it has filed a complaint in Florida state court against DraftKings, Inc. and its Chief Executive Officer, Jason Robins, alleging that DraftKings is operating an illegal sports betting business in Florida in violation of state law and the terms of the 2021 Gaming Compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe (the “Compact”).
The 72-page complaint details DraftKings’ illegal gaming operations, cites Mr. Robins’ public statements describing DraftKings’ Florida product as functionally identical to its licensed sportsbook offerings in other regulated states, and references DraftKings’ secret funding of a series of litigations over five years seeking to invalidate the Compact and the regulatory framework governing sports betting in Florida, including a suit filed in Florida state court on September 17, 2026 against the State of Florida and its officials. The complaint also uniquely distinguishes DraftKings’ ‘Super App’ specifically from a genuine prediction market in several fundamental respects.
Florida’s sports betting market is regulated under the Compact which was previously challenged in federal court and state court, but those challenges were rejected. According to the complaint, DraftKings offers Florida consumers an illegal sports betting ‘Super App’, notwithstanding that DraftKings does not hold a license to offer sports wagering in the state. The tribe alleges the sports betting ‘Super App’ violates the Compact and state law, and deprives Florida of substantial revenue and regulatory oversight, including mandatory consumer protections such as minimum 21 years-old age verification and restrictions on certain categories of bets. DraftKings’ own marketing identifies the offering as gambling and entices potential customers with ‘Bonus’ bets.
Under Florida law, the Seminole Tribe has the authority to bring an action to shut down the operation of illegal sports betting businesses in the state. The litigation is intended to protect the Seminole Tribe’s rights under the Compact and to support the integrity of Florida’s regulated sports betting framework, which generates revenue-sharing payments to the state that fund public programs, including environmental conservation, water management, and support for local governments. As detailed in the complaint, the Seminole Tribe will prioritize using funds recovered in this lawsuit from DraftKings for Florida-specific consumer protection initiatives and responsible gambling recovery programs.